Examination of Witnesses (Questions 260-261)
E.ON UK AND EDF ENERGY
6 JUNE 2006
Q260 Chairman: In your evidence you
also suggest that one of the issues that needs to be addressed
is public confidence. Not only does the framework need to be right
at the governmental, legal and regulatory level but you also need
public confidence. Do you believe that the way the Government
is handling the energy review is sufficient to satisfy the public
that the nuclear option is the right way forward, or do we need
a White Paper and further public discussion before final decisions
are taken?
Dr Golby: That is probably more
in your court as politicians than mine.
Q261 Chairman: I want to know what
reassurance you need as investors to make the investment?
Dr Golby: The reassurance I need
is that there is a broad level of cross-party support for this
because we are investing over several government cycles, not just
one, and there is increasing public support. In the 2003 White
Paper the Government said that it would need to publish a further
White Paper in this area and that could well be the process for
doing this.
Mr de Rivaz: Perhaps I may add
to that. Although I have been in this industry in the UK for no
more than five years I have been impressed by the process that
is going on at the moment. The energy review has been, is and
will be to the end a robust, transparent and sensible process
to examine the problems that face us and what the solutions to
those problems are, so we and many others have been engaged with
government and officials to participate in this debate. I feel
that this debate will have been extremely helpful to get cross-party
support for a policy which is not for one or two Parliaments but
for two or more generations, and, beyond the parties, the support
of public opinion. It is one of the key elements for us as potential
investors to make our decisions. There is no alternative but to
have public acceptance. For us with our huge experience in nuclear
we have always thought that public acceptance is essential. We
have been working for decades to get public acceptance where it
is and we are willing to be helpful in this country to create
the conditions for public acceptance. If we are welcomed by customers
and politicians in this country and by our shareholders we will
make the choice to invest in new build in this country.
Chairman: Gentlemen, thank you for your
contribution to the debate today. I shall be writing to EDF about
one issue which I had hoped to raise: third-party liability insurance.
I am very grateful to you for your time and trouble. I am sorry
that it has been a bit more rushed than we would have liked but
you have made your case very clearly.
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